Praise for Rotherham station schemes

Station improvements in Rotherham and a bridge project at Bolton-on-Dearne have been highlighted in the organisation’s figures.

Network Rail is the non-profit making operator of the country’s railway infrastructure, looking after tracks, stations, tunnels, bridges, level crossings and signals.

The results show that more than £1 billion was invested in improving the rail network connecting London and the home counties with the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East over the past 12 months.

The two schemes locally were including as part of a five-year round-up in Network Rail’s results.

Rotherham Station was reopened after an £8.5 million rebuild in July 2012 and Bolton-on-Dearne saw its station footpath crossing replaced by a bridge as part of a £7.5 million package effecting four Yorkshire stations in 2010.

Network Rail said that services across Yorkshire had been improved by major projects such as a new station at Wakefield Westgate, passenger improvements at Chesterfield, removing bottlenecks north of Doncaster and work at King’s Cross in the capital.

The organisation said it had carried out improvements at more than 500 stations across the country and installed nearly 200 lifts.

Phil Verster, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “Our railway is a vital part of our national infrastructure.

“Rail services connect homes and workplaces, businesses and markets — they create jobs, stimulate trade and support the growth of a balanced economy.

“The railway is transporting record numbers of passengers between our cities and towns which is being matched by record investment.

“Passenger numbers are expected to increase by 16 per cent by 2019.

“We are planning for that demand by continuing to invest, wisely and efficiently.

“We are committed to implementing these plans while maintaining a safe service and making the improvements in performance passengers rightly expect.”